This manual was developed to provide businesses with practical and easily implemented ways to meet the needs of local schools. It provides ideas and approaches for developing partnerships focused on school dropouts by exploring problems and pitfalls and offering solutions. The document has five chapters; a 21-item reference list; a description of the National Dropout Prevention Center's collection of databases, FOCUS; a 13-item listing of additional resources, and sample materials for partnership programs. Chapter 1 discusses recognizing the problem of dropouts. Chapter 2 addresses ways of dealing with the problem and why school efforts are not enough. Chapter 3 describes structuring a community partnership program and includes a planning guide for partnership activities. Chapter 4 provides examples of working partnerships. Chapter 5 discusses how to keep the momentum of a program going through monitoring, public relations and recognition, and evaluation and feedback. (CML)